Define Your Moments

Posted: 15/12/2014 by
Cox Purtell

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string(4804) "Relaxing in the recliner at the hairdresser flicking through Marie Claire, a caption struck me: What was your defining year? I’ve only had 27 of them, so I’d like to think I have plenty of defining years left in me…but with 2014 nearing an end, it got me thinking.
So many factors define us – some we are born with and are inherently ours, some are moments we seek out. Others are instances we never saw coming.
There are the relationships we share – the good, the bad and the oh so ugly; the places we inhabit or stumble upon briefly; the music we lose ourselves in; the work we choose to do day after day. They may not always feel like choices, but certainly they shape who we are and over the course of 12 months, a hell of a lot can happen.
So what of our professional selves? Is there a defining year or moment for us all? I imagine a vast number of people can pinpoint a year that stands out. The question is, why? And how can we influence these defining moments for ourselves?
GOALS
It doesn’t cost you anything to set them, but it might if you don’t! Be honest with yourself and what YOU want. There is nothing worse than setting a goal you have no interest in achieving!
Make yourself accountable – if you go to the effort of setting your goals, give yourself the best shot of achieving them. Tell your colleagues, I guarantee you will be more inclined to try when you know people have their eyes on you.
MOTIVATION
I don’t believe everyone knows what it is they really want or where they want to be 20 years from now, and there’s nothing wrong with that. There doesn’t have to be a finish line in sight where it all wraps up. What do you want now, and over the next couple of years? What is important to you in your career and in your life and why? To be ambitious is a fantastic trait, but manage your expectations realistically and earn your stripes.
ENVIRONMENT
Environment has a massive impact on our thinking, our behaviours and our processes. I’m lucky – I’m surrounded all day by positive people. We help each other, we laugh together, we want to succeed as a unit. As any recruiter can attest, we all have our off days in this rollercoaster industry – but respect and camaraderie you cannot put a price on.
It’s great to be self-sufficient, but don’t forget to use the people around you. It’s a two way street, there has to be give and take, treat people well and it will come back to you. It's basic karma. Cheesy but true.
Be mindful of your goals – yes the team may be awesome, but in a professional capacity, is this an environment where you can expand on your skills and progress? Be honest in answering those questions. I have been the person who stays in a stagnant role because of my passion for the team. Well, as it turns out, those people are still my close friends – but changing my environment and taking a risk was a defining moment in my career.
HONESTY
Sometimes you just have to be brutal with yourself. You know when something isn’t working or satisfying you. Instinct tells you when you’ve lost a spark, or when you’ve found it. I am a firm believer in going with your gut. You can do this and still make practical decisions, but as the saying goes – ‘You regret the things you didn’t do, not the things you did.’
SELF-BELIEF…BUT DON’T GO OTT!
The biggest hurdle I face in my career is the one I have constructed myself. I’m a positive type, the happy go lucky sort, but I can be my own worst enemy when it comes to confidence.
If you expect someone to hire you, support you, guide you, mentor you, value you, trust you – the list goes on – shouldn’t you be of the opinion that you are worth it? Don’t get carried away though, humility is severely underrated nowadays!
This year has been the year of the confidence search for me. Lost and found (I’m pleased to say I’m at the latter end now!), there have been an abundance of tests to face. But here I am writing a blog, with a fresh ‘do and an abundance of opportunity ahead if I have the confidence to accept the challenge…..
Game on!"
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Relaxing in the recliner at the hairdresser flicking through Marie Claire, a caption struck me: What was your defining year? I’ve only had 27 of them, so I’d like to think I have plenty of defining years left in me…but with 2014 nearing an end, it got me thinking.

So many factors define us – some we are born with and are inherently ours, some are moments we seek out. Others are instances we never saw coming.

There are the relationships we share – the good, the bad and the oh so ugly; the places we inhabit or stumble upon briefly; the music we lose ourselves in; the work we choose to do day after day. They may not always feel like choices, but certainly they shape who we are and over the course of 12 months, a hell of a lot can happen.

So what of our professional selves? Is there a defining year or moment for us all? I imagine a vast number of people can pinpoint a year that stands out. The question is, why? And how can we influence these defining moments for ourselves?

GOALS

It doesn’t cost you anything to set them, but it might if you don’t! Be honest with yourself and what YOU want. There is nothing worse than setting a goal you have no interest in achieving!

Make yourself accountable – if you go to the effort of setting your goals, give yourself the best shot of achieving them. Tell your colleagues, I guarantee you will be more inclined to try when you know people have their eyes on you.

MOTIVATION

I don’t believe everyone knows what it is they really want or where they want to be 20 years from now, and there’s nothing wrong with that. There doesn’t have to be a finish line in sight where it all wraps up. What do you want now, and over the next couple of years? What is important to you in your career and in your life and why? To be ambitious is a fantastic trait, but manage your expectations realistically and earn your stripes.

ENVIRONMENT

Environment has a massive impact on our thinking, our behaviours and our processes. I’m lucky – I’m surrounded all day by positive people. We help each other, we laugh together, we want to succeed as a unit. As any recruiter can attest, we all have our off days in this rollercoaster industry – but respect and camaraderie you cannot put a price on.

It’s great to be self-sufficient, but don’t forget to use the people around you. It’s a two way street, there has to be give and take, treat people well and it will come back to you. It’s basic karma. Cheesy but true.

Be mindful of your goals – yes the team may be awesome, but in a professional capacity, is this an environment where you can expand on your skills and progress? Be honest in answering those questions. I have been the person who stays in a stagnant role because of my passion for the team. Well, as it turns out, those people are still my close friends – but changing my environment and taking a risk was a defining moment in my career.

HONESTY

Sometimes you just have to be brutal with yourself. You know when something isn’t working or satisfying you. Instinct tells you when you’ve lost a spark, or when you’ve found it. I am a firm believer in going with your gut. You can do this and still make practical decisions, but as the saying goes – ‘You regret the things you didn’t do, not the things you did.’

SELF-BELIEF…BUT DON’T GO OTT!

The biggest hurdle I face in my career is the one I have constructed myself. I’m a positive type, the happy go lucky sort, but I can be my own worst enemy when it comes to confidence.

If you expect someone to hire you, support you, guide you, mentor you, value you, trust you – the list goes on – shouldn’t you be of the opinion that you are worth it? Don’t get carried away though, humility is severely underrated nowadays!

This year has been the year of the confidence search for me. Lost and found (I’m pleased to say I’m at the latter end now!), there have been an abundance of tests to face. But here I am writing a blog, with a fresh ‘do and an abundance of opportunity ahead if I have the confidence to accept the challenge…..